The Watchman On The Wall

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Verse 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

China Will Pay The Biggest Price

China
will pay the biggest price from the new U.N. sanctions against North Korea
because of its close economic relationship with the country, but will always
enforce the resolutions, Chinese
Foreign Minister Wang Yi said.

The U.N. Security Council unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea
on Saturday over its continued missile tests that could slash the reclusive
country's $3 billion
annual export revenue by a third.

Speaking at a regional security forum in Manila on Monday, Wang
said the new resolution showed China and the international community's
opposition to North Korea's continued missile tests.

"But in order to protect the international
non-proliferation system and regional peace and stability, China will, as
before, fully and strictly properly implement the entire contents of the
relevant resolution."

China, North Korea's lone major ally, has repeatedly said it is
committed to enforcing increasingly tough U.N. resolutions on North Korea,
though it has also said what it terms "normal" trade and ordinary North Koreans
should not be affected.

The latest U.N. resolution bans North Korean exports of coal,
iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood. It also prohibits countries from
increasing the numbers of North Korean laborers currently working abroad, bans
new joint ventures with North Korea and any new investment in current joint
ventures.

North Korea has made no secret of its plans to develop a
nuclear-tipped missile capable of striking the United States and has ignored
international calls to halt its nuclear and missile programs.

North Korea says its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs)
are a legitimate means of defense against perceived U.S. hostility. It has long
accused the United States and South Korea of escalating tensions by conducting
military drills.

Wang said that apart from the new
sanctions, the resolution also made clear that the six-party talks process, a
stalled dialogue mechanism with North Korea that also includes Russia and
Japan, should be restarted.

China appreciated comments earlier this month by U.S. Secretary
of State Rex Tillerson that the United States was not seeking to topple the
North Korean government and would like dialogue with Pyongyang at some point,
Wang added.

The United States did not
seek regime change, the collapse of the regime, an accelerated reunification of
the peninsula or an excuse to send the U.S. military into North Korea,
Tillerson said.

Wang said Tillerson's
"Four Nos" promise was a positive signal.

China
"hopes North Korea can echo this signal from the United States", Wang
added.

Speaking at the same forum on Monday, Tillerson held a door open
for dialogue with North Korea saying Washington was willing to talk to
Pyongyang if it halted its missile test launches.

Still, he maintained the pressure on North Korea, pressing
Thailand on Tuesday for more action against Pyongyang.

North Korea said the sanctions infringed its sovereignty and it
was ready to give Washington a "severe lesson" with its strategic
nuclear force in response to any U.S. military action.

The successful testing of two ICBMs last month suggested the
reclusive North was making technical progress, Japan's annual Defense White
Paper warned.

"Since last year, when it forcibly implemented two nuclear
tests and more than 20 ballistic missile launches, the security threats have
entered a new stage," the Japanese Defense Ministry said in the 563-page
document released on Tuesday.

"It is conceivable that North Korea's nuclear weapons
program has already considerably advanced and it is possible that North Korea
has already achieved the miniaturization of nuclear weapons and has acquired
nuclear warheads," it said.

South Korea reiterated further resolutions against Pyongyang
could follow if it did not pull back.

"North
Korea should realize if it doesn't stop its nuclear, missile provocations, it
will face even stronger pressure and sanctions," Defense Ministry
spokesman Moon Sang-gyun told a regular news briefing. "We warn North
Korea not to test or misunderstand the will of the South Korea-U.S.
alliance."